Rhaphiolepis indica &#34;Hines darkleaf&#34;

ABSTRACT

The new plant is a hybrid Rhaphiolepis indica plant characterized by its unique deep purple foliage in winter that is a darker purple than any other Rhaphiolepis indica cultivar. It is also unique for its compact, low growth habit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct plant cultivar of the variety Rhaphiolepis indica (L.) Lindl shrub commonly known as "Indiana Hawthorn" in the Rosaceae family. I call this new cultivar by the cultivar name `Hines Darkleaf`.

This new Rhaphiolepis indica selection was discovered in a block of Rhaphiolepis indica seedlings during the spring of 1986 as a new found seedling of unknown parentage growing in a cultivated area at a containerized commercial nursery in Houston, Tex. This plant was recognized as distinct from other Rhaphiolepis indica cultivars, and was selected and isolated for further evaluation. The new Rhaphiolepis indica selection has been reproduced by asexual propagation under my direction at Fort Bend County, Tex., through numerous generations by vegetative cuttings. Successive generations produced in this manner have demonstrated that the novel and distinctive characteristics of this new variety are fixed and hold true under asexual propagation from generation to generation.

This new selection has many desirable and distinctive characteristics which render it unique from other Raphiolepis indica cultivars. This new cultivar has the following combination of characteristics which distinguish it from other varieties: Unique deep purplish/black foliage in winter is a darker and deeper purple than that of any other Raphiolepis indica cultivar. It is also unique for its compact, low, prostrate growth habit.

My new variety is illustrated in the accompanying photographic drawings which depict the colors of the new variety as nearly true as is reasonably possible to make the same in a color illustration of this character.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a plant of the `Hines Darkleaf` cultivar (left photograph in the figure) and a plant of Rhaphiolepis indica `Ballerina` (right photograph in the figure) taken in the spring to show a comparison of these two plants. These two plants were grown under culturally identical conditions (pruning, transplanting, and fertilization). The plants are both two to five years old from cutting to the size shown in the photograph;

FIG. 2 is a close-up of the flowers of the `Hines Darkleaf` variety;

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the cultivar `Hines Darkleaf` planted in the landscape for approximately one year from a number five container;

FIG. 4 is a photograph of a `Hines Darkleaf` plant displaying its winter foliage;

FIG. 5 is a close-up of the winter foliage of the `Hines Darkleaf` variety; and

FIG. 6 is a close-up of the spring flush of growth of the `Hines Darkleaf` variety.

DETAILED PLANT DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new Rhaphiolepis indica variety. This description is based on observations of no fewer than 20 specimens for each specified characteristic. Color determinations and comparisons are all based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. The following descriptions are based upon mature development in Fort Bend County, Tex.

Origin: Hybrid seedling.

Parentage: Unknown.

Classification: Hybrid.

Form: Low, compact, prostrate.

Height: About 61 to 76 cm, spread about 183 cm or more.

Foliage:

Apex.--Cuspidate.

Arrangement.--Alternate.

Base.--Narrow cuneate.

Margins.--Recurved entire.

Shape.--Elliptic to obovate.

Surface.--Glabrous, coriaceous.

Juvenile foliage.--Pubescent.

Type.--Simple.

Size.--Average Length -- about 7.5 to 8.8 cm (leaf apex to leaf base); Average Width -- about 2.5 to 3.7 cm.

Color:

A. Winter color.--1. Upper leaf surface of mature leaves: near to RHS 187A with black undertones. 2. Lower leaf surface of mature leaves: near to RHSA 138A. 3. Upper leaf surface of young (immature) leaves: Tip portion near to RHS 59A, near to 143A at the base of the leaf. 4. Stems are near to 59A. 5. Lower leaf surface of young (immature) leaves: near to RHS Green 143C.

B. Summer color.--1. Upper leaf surface of mature leaves: near to RHS 147A. 2. Lower leaf surface of mature leaves: near to RHS 146B with veins near to RHS 137D. 3. Upper leaf surface of young (immature) leaves: near to RHS 178C, changing to near 164A. 4. Lower leaf surface of young (immature) leaves: near to RHS Colour 171A, changing to near to 172B.

Inflorescence: Flowers are in linear panicles average 10.3 cm.

Bloom period: February to late April, peak time March to mid-April; sporadic bloom in September to November.

Petal color: Near to RHS 54C and 155C.

Flower diameter: About 2.1 cm.

Petal shape: Ovate (curled).

Petal number: Five.

Peduncle: About 0.20 cm.

Fruit: Drupelike pome, color near to RHS 202A.

DESCRIPTION OF OTHER POTENTIALLY SIMILAR RHAPHIOLEPIS CULTIVARS

The following descriptions and comparisons are based on an average of not less than twenty specimens for each specified characteristic. The comparisons were formulated from side-by-side evaluation of container grown specimens of each of the specimens listed below. This cultivar was chosen on the basis that it is believed to be the most similar cultivar to `Hines Darkleaf`. Comparison plants are, as nearly as possible, all the same age and have been grown in the same environment with the same cultural techniques.

Rhaphiolepis indica `Ballerina` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,972)

Flower color: Deep rosy pink, Red-Purple near to 55B.

Plant habit: Compact, mounding upright.

Plant height: 90-120 cm.

Leaf length: About 6.5 cm.

Leaf width: About 2.7 cm.

Leaf margins: Undulated.

Following is a further comparison of these cultivars:

    ______________________________________                                                     `HINES                                                                         DARKLEAF`   `BALLERINA`                                            ______________________________________                                         Plant Structure:                                                               Growth habit  low, compact, compact,                                                         prostrate     mounding,                                                                      upright                                            Overall size  height 2 to 2.5',                                                                            height 3', spread                                                spread 6' or more                                                                            4' or more*                                        Angle of the  0% angle to soil                                                                             85% angle to the                                   main branches line for 15 cm                                                                               soil line                                                        then the branch                                                                bends on a 30%                                                                 angle to soil                                                                  line                                                             Diameter of   1 cm          1 cm                                               branches                                                                       Average number                                                                               30            28                                                 of leaves per                                                                  main branch                                                                    Range of      1 to 2 cm     .5 to 1.5 cm                                       internode length                                                               of main branch                                                                 Average sub-  8             4.5                                                branches per                                                                   main branch                                                                    Average       .7 to 1.2 cm  .5 to 1 cm                                         internode length                                                               on sub-branch                                                                  Average number                                                                               10            7                                                  of leaves per                                                                  sub-branch                                                                     Foliage:                                                                       Shape of leaves                                                                              elliptic to   obovate to                                                       obovate       oblanceolate                                       Margins       recurved entire                                                                              undulate                                           Apex          cuspidate     acute                                              Base          narrow cuneate                                                                               attenuate                                          Average size of                                                                              length 8.0 cm,                                                                               length 6.5 cm,                                     leaf          width 3.38 cm width 2.7 cm                                       Type of leaves                                                                               simple        simple                                             Surface texture                                                                              glabrous,     coriaceous                                                       coriaceous                                                       Winter Foliage Color:                                                          Upper surface of                                                                             RHS 187A, greyed                                                                             RHS 137A                                           mature leaf   purple with black                                                              undertones                                                       Lower surface of                                                                             RHS 138A      RHS 142B                                           mature leaf                                                                    Upper surface of                                                                             RHS 59A       RHS 178B                                           juvenile leaf                                                                  apex                                                                           Upper surface of                                                                             RHS 143A      RHS 178B                                           juvenile leaf                                                                  base                                                                           Lower surface of                                                                             RHS 143C      RHS 176C                                           juvenile leaf                                                                  Summer Foliage Color:                                                          Upper surface of                                                                             RHS 147A      1060/1 pg. 200,                                    mature leaf                 ivy green*                                         Lower surface of                                                                             RHS 146B      960/3 pg. 187,                                     mature leaf                 spinach green                                      Upper surface of                                                                             RHS 178C changing                                                                            **                                                 juvenile leaf to 164A                                                          Average petiole                                                                              1.4 cm        .7 cm                                              length                                                                         Flower:                                                                        Blooming habit                                                                               February to late                                                                             February to May;                                                 April, peak time                                                                             peak time April to                                               March to mid- May; sporadic                                                    April; sporadic                                                                              blooms in August                                                 blooms in     to October*                                                      September to  February to late                                                 November in   April, peak time                                                 Houston, Texas                                                                               March to mid-                                                                  April; sporadic                                                                blooms in                                                                      September to                                                                   November in                                                                    Houston, Texas                                     Shape of      linear panicle                                                                               broad pyramidal                                    inflorescence               panicle                                            Average length                                                                               10.3 cm, slightly                                                                            9.8 cm, slightly                                   and description                                                                              hairy         hairy                                              of panicle                                                                     Color of      apex RHS 143C,                                                                               RHS 184A                                           peduncle      base 59A                                                         Range of pedicel                                                                             13.6          16.25                                              per peduncle                                                                   Range of flowers                                                                             1 to 2        1                                                  per pedicel                                                                    Shape of flower                                                                              rotate; 2.1 cm in                                                                            rotate; 2.4 cm in                                  and average size                                                                             diameter      diameter                                           Number of petals                                                                             5             5                                                  Petal shape   ovate (curled)                                                                               obovate                                            Overall color of                                                                             single bicolor                                                                               single solid pink,                                 flower        pink petals with                                                                             pink petals with                                                 a circle of white                                                                            yellow stamens                                                   surrounding the                                                                yellow stamens;                                                                as the flower                                                                  matures the outer                                                              edge of the                                                                    petals begins to                                                               turn white                                                       Petal color   RHS 54C, 155C RHS 55B                                            Average number                                                                               19.4          19                                                 of stamens per                                                                 flower                                                                         Average stamen                                                                               .6 cm         .7 cm                                              length                                                                         Stamen color  new anther                                                                     RHS 10B       RHS 10B                                                          new filament                                                                   RHS 155C      RHS 155C                                                         old anther                                                                     RHS 162A      RHS 162A                                                         old filament                                                                   RHS 59D       RHS 59D                                            Style/flower  2             2                                                  Color of style                                                                               RHS 160B      RHS 160B                                           Sepals        5 united      5 united                                           ______________________________________                                          All information taken on Rhaphiolepis `Hines Darkleaf` and `Ballerina` wa      collected from comparable plant material of similar size and age at Hines      Nursery in Houston, Texas unless otherwise stated.                             *Information taken from Plant Patent 2,972                                     **Information not published in Plant Patent 2,972                         

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Rhaphiolepis indica plant substantially as herein shown and described, and which is particularly characterized by its dark purple winter foliage and compact, low, prostrate growth habit. 